Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch went 25 of 36 for 276 yards, one touchdown and one interception in leading Pittsburgh past the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Batch started in place of injured starter Ben Roethlisberger and injured backup Byron Leftwich.

Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch went 25 of 36 for 276 yards, one touchdown and one interception in leading Pittsburgh past the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Batch started in place of injured starter Ben Roethlisberger and injured backup Byron Leftwich. (US Presswire)

These two teams, in the immortal words of the great Keith Jackson, "just plain don't like each other." But it's harder to like the Steelers to win this game without Ben Roethlisberger. Steelers keep it close, but Ravens prevail.

If Ben Roethlisberger somehow plays, this prediction is toast. But with Byron Leftwich starting, the Ravens should be able to concentrate on stopping the Steelers' run game and do enough on offense to leave with their third win in last four trips to Heinz Field.

Suddenly, the momentum in the AFC North has shifted again. Big Ben and the Steelers are banged up and the Ravens have had a big confidence injection in time for this nationally televised showdown.

Matt Vensel

Ravens 20, Steelers 16

The absence of Ben Roethlisberger swings this into Baltimore's favor. And if the Ravens' offense is capable of playing four quality quarters on the road, it's the Steelers who will coax it out of them.

Every week, I hope to bring you a quick Q&A with someone who covers the Ravens’ opponent that week. In case you haven’t heard, the Ravens play the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on Sunday. I chatted with longtime Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Ed Bouchette this week while I covered the Steelers...

Torrey Smith's 26-yard touchdown catch from Joe Flacco more than a year ago capped the Ravens' first season sweep of the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2006. But the reverberations from that play may resonate a good deal longer.